Hoboken City Council discusses funding of 9/11 memorial

The council unanimously approved a resolution to continue the process of building a 9/11 memorial.

The lengthy discussion was sparked when Hoboken resident Maurice DeGenarro asked the council: "I'm not against
memorials or anything, but how much does it cost us?"

Claire Moses/Hoboken NowHoboken resident Maurice DeGenarro raised his concern about the costs of a proposed 9/11 memorial in Hoboken. DeGenarro was talking about a 9/11
memorial to be built in by Pier A in Hoboken to remember the 57
Hoboken victims who died in the terrorist attacks, as well as first responders and other rescue workers.

Answer: This proposal includes a $58,000 in engineering costs to be paid for by a grant that the
Hoboken 9/11 Memorial Committee received from the state. The total costs of the memorial are supposed to stay below $200,000.

"We're actually at risk of losing this
grant, if we
don't move forward," said Brandy Forbes, community development director for the city of Hoboken.

Another Hoboken resident Jim Doyle, also voiced his concerns. He focused on the location of the memorial. He urged the council to consider other places in town.

"Adding memorials to Pier A park," he said, "it will change from what it was meant to be."

Forbes proposed an amendment that would give City Council the power to decide on the location of the memorial.

Councilwoman Beth Mason proposed to approve the engineering and design process of the project,, to keep the process moving and continue the discussion once the council has its budget.

Councilman Mike Lenz said he wants to introduce an amendment that the project's total cost would not exceed $200,000.